Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Online course increases nutrition professionals' knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in using an ecological approach
Christina M Stark1, Meredith L Graham-Kiefer, Carol M Devine
1Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. cms11@cornell.edu
Objective:
To assess the impact of an online continuing education course on the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy of nutrition professionals to use an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity.
Design:
Quasi-experimental design using intervention and delayed intervention comparison groups with pre/post-course assessments.
Setting:
Online continuing education course.
Participants:
Nutrition and health professionals in an online course (n = 105) and a delayed intervention comparison group (n = 37).
Intervention:
A 6-week, facilitated online course titled, Preventing Childhood Obesity: An Ecological Approach.
Main Outcome Measures:
Changes in knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy in using an ecological approach to address childhood obesity.
Analysis:
Paired and independent sample t tests, factor analysis, regression analysis.
Results:
In contrast to a comparison group, nutrition and health professionals who participated in a 6-week online course had statistically significant increases (P < .01) in their knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to using an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity.
Conclusions And Implications:
A facilitated online course can be effective at increasing the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy of community-based nutrition and health professionals in using an ecological approach to prevent childhood obesity in their communities.
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